Forty Years in South China eBook

He was a delightful companion through his gentleness,
sympathy, wide range of knowledge, cheerfulness, animated
and earnest speech, vigor of thought and expression,
deference for the opinions and rights of others, and
unselfishness. He asked nothing, demanded nothing
for himself, but was alert to contribute to the enjoyment
of those around him. The work of his life was
of inestimable value. He was abundant in labors.
Only the life to come will reveal how much he accomplished
which in the highest sense was worthy of accomplishment.
Those who knew him best, esteemed, loved, and trusted
him the most.

APPENDIX.

Ecclesiastical Relations of Presbyterian Missionaries,
especially of the Presbyterian Missionaries at Amoy,
China.

ByRev. J. V. N. Talmage, D.D.

We have recently received letters making inquiries
concerning the Relations of the Missionaries of the
English Presbyterian Church, and of the American Reformed
Church to the Tai-hoey [Presbytery, or Classis,] of
Amoy; stating views on certain points connected with
the general subject of the organization of ecclesiastical
Judicatories on Mission ground; and asking our views
on the same. We have thought it best to state
our answer so as to cover the whole subject of these
several suggestions and inquiries, as (though they
are from different sources) they form but one subject.

Our views are not hasty. They are the result
of much thought, experience and observation.
But we are now compelled to throw them together in
much more haste than we could wish, for which, we
trust, allowance will be made.

As preliminary we remark that we have actual and practical
relations both to the home churches, and to the churches
gathered here, and our Ecclesiastical relations should
correspond thereto.

1. Our Relation to the Home Churches. We
are their agents, sent by them to do a certain work,
and supported by them in the doing of that work.
Therefore so long as this relation continues, in all
matters affecting our qualifications for that work,—­of
course including “matters affecting ministerial
character,”—­we should remain subject
to their jurisdiction. In accordance with this
we retain our connection with our respective home
Presbyteries or Classes.

2. Our Relation to the Church here. We are
the actual pastors of the churches growing up under
our care, until they are far enough advanced to have
native pastors set over them. The first native
pastors here were ordained by the missionaries to
the office of “Minister of the Word,” the
same office that we ourselves hold. In all subsequent
ordinations, and other ecclesiastical matters, the
native pastors have been associated with the missionaries.
The Tai-hoey at Amoy, in this manner, gradually grew
up with perfect parity between the native and foreign
members.

With these preliminary statements we proceed to notice
the suggestions made and questions propounded.
“To extend to the native churches on mission
ground the lines of separation which exist among Presbyterian
bodies” in home lands is acknowledged to be
a great evil. To avoid this evil and to “bring
all the native Presbyterians,” in the same locality,
“into one organization,” two plans are
suggested to us.